February 24, 2012

Rhino Translocation from Kaziranga to Manas National Park

Following the path of "Indian Rhino Vision 2020" program, 04 more rhinoceros have been translocated from World Heritage site Kaziranga National Park to another World Heritage site Manas National Park. These rhinos belongs to the endangered great Indian one-horned rhinos species. Among them 03 of them are females and 01 was male. Translocation took place on 20/Feb/2012 in which rhinos were releasedin Buraburijhar range of Manas National Park. With this latest rhinos shifting, total reaches 16 to Manas National Park. In addition to Kaziranga, some rhinos will be taken from Pobitora wildlife sanctuary also for Manas.

Indian Rhino Vision 2020 is a joint collaboration with WWF, International Rhino foundation, Us Fish & Wildlife Service & Bodoland Territorial Council. Its objective is to raise rhino population about 2000 to 3000 by the year 2020 and also to ensure their healthy distribution among 7 protected areas. Since 1905, when hardly 20-30 rhinos were left in Kaziranga, conservation project was undertaken and agencies achieved major success in it. But now conservation authorities aiming to do it more seriously and better way. At present rhinos population is mainly concentrated in Kaziranga and Pobitora wildlife sanctuary. Their increasing population is creating stress in biodiversity of parks and resources. Similarly poaching is also another threat due to which Laokhowa forest lost its rhino population where about 50 rhinos were present in past. Same is the case with Orang National Park.So here it is needed to improve security in rhino areas, ensure better distribution of rhinos to reduce risk of stochastic catastrophes, reduce population pressure in Pobitora to maintain ecological balance. So current translocation is one of many steps to achieve long term goals.

We wish them all the very best and our sincere support.The four one-horned endangered rhinos, of which three are females, were translocated from Kaziranga National Park and later released in the Buraburijhar range of Manas yesterday. With the latest translocation, a total of 16 rhinos have been released into the wild in Manas National Park, under the Rhino Vision programme. Apart from Kaziranga, rhinos from Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary, an area which has the highest density of the animals' population, have been taken to Manas. The Rhino vision programme is a joint collaboration with WWF, the International Rhino Foundation, US Fish and Wildlife Service and Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) in which Manas reserve exists. Manas national park, also a tiger reserve, and Kaziranga National Park are two world heritage sites in Assam.